Jaw injuries are often the result of a road traffic accident or a workplace accident involving trauma to the face. Common jaw injuries include fractures, dislocations, injuries to the jaw muscle, and torn ligaments or tendons which support the jaw bones. Did you know that a broken jaw is the third most common type of facial fracture? The long-term effects of a jaw injury can impact the rest of your life. If you have sustained a jaw injury and you think somebody else is at fault for your accident, Accident Advice Helpline could help you make a 100% no-win, no-fee* claim for personal injury compensation within three years of your accident.

What are the symptoms of a jaw injury?

The symptoms of a jaw injury can vary depending on the severity of the injury and the type of injury you have sustained. However, they can include:

Jaw pain

Swelling to the face and/or jaw

Numbness

Protruding jaw

Loose teeth

Drooling

Bleeding

Bruising under tongue

Unable to open your jaw as normal

Issues speaking

A jaw injury can affect your ability to eat, drink and speak, although these issues will normally resolve themselves once your injury has healed. It’s important to seek urgent medical attention after sustaining a suspected jaw injury, as the quicker you receive the treatment you need, the better your prognosis for a full and speedy recovery, and the more likely you are to avoid long-term effects of a jaw injury.

What’s the treatment for a fractured jaw?

A fractured jaw is one of the most serious types of jaw injuries you can sustain and you may need surgery if you have been unlucky enough to sustain a jaw fracture. This type of injury is commonly seen after impact in road traffic accidents, slips, trips and falls and even sporting accidents. A clean break can heal by itself in a matter of weeks or months, but your jaw will normally need to be immobilised with a bandage or wire, so you will be unable to open your jaw wide. If you have sustained a displaced fracture or multiple fractures then you may need surgery, and the recovery period for this can vary.

How is a dislocated jaw treated?

If you have dislocated your jaw then pain and swelling is normal and medical treatment will involve manipulating your jaw back into place. This can be done manually, and you will normally be given muscle relaxants and a local anaesthetic. In some cases, surgery may be needed. It can take six weeks or more for a dislocated jaw to heal.

What are the long-term effects of a jaw injury?

The long-term effects of a jaw injury could impact your quality of life, making it difficult for you to go to work or socialise. Although jaw injuries usually heal well after treatment, complications could include:

Infection of the face or jaw

Issues aligning teeth

Numbness in the face or jaw

One of the most common long-term effects of a jaw injury is temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) which is a type of chronic joint pain that you could suffer – it can be painful and debilitating. If you have dislocated your jaw, there is also an increased risk of another dislocation in future. The long-term effects of a jaw injury can be psychological as well as physical – for example if you suffer permanent scarring or issues with your teeth being properly aligned after your injury, this could affect your physical appearance, having a knock-on effect on your confidence and leading to conditions such as depression and anxiety. When you make a claim with Accident Advice Helpline, we will take these things into account, to ensure you get the compensation you’re entitled to.

How a jaw injury affects your life in the short term

You may need to take time off work if you have suffered a jaw injury, and you will be advised to follow a soft diet if you have dislocated or fractured your jaw. This means avoiding hard or crunchy foods and sticking to soup, canned fruit, well-cooked rice and pasta and other soft foods that won’t damage your jaw as it heals. Not only can this limit your social life, as you will be unable to enjoy meals out, it can also affect your health and lead to weight loss, as you could find it difficult to consume all the calories you need.

Can I claim compensation if my jaw injury has healed?

It’s not just the long-term effects of a jaw injury that could leave you eligible to claim personal injury compensation. If you have suffered any type of jaw injury that required medical treatment, and somebody else was to blame for your accident, you could make a personal injury claim with Accident Advice Helpline. It may be that you’ve suffered a clean fracture to your jaw after a road traffic accident and will need to take 6-8 weeks off work whilst this heals. We can help you to get compensation for your loss of earnings and any other financial expenses you’ve incurred as a result of your injury, as well as compensation for your pain and suffering.

Get in touch with Accident Advice Helpline

The good news is that you might be entitled to make a personal injury claim after your accident, and you can get in touch with Accident Advice Helpline to find out more about making a claim at any time. Just call our freephone helpline on 0800 689 0500 (or 0333 500 0993 from a mobile) and we’ll be able to help you. Our professional personal injury lawyers have helped thousands of people to claim compensation for jaw injuries, and we offer a 100% no-win, no-fee* service, so you have nothing to lose by making a claim.

Most claims can be processed over the phone too, so it is unlikely you’ll have to go to court. Why not get in touch with us today to find out if you’re eligible to claim, or take the 30-second test on our website right now for an idea of how much compensation you could be entitled to?